Synergetic Effects of HGF and Antibacterial Treatment

Abstract

A method of treating an infection and/or an injury caused or complicated by an infection in a mammal, comprising providing an antibiotic or fungicide and either HGF or a polypeptide exhibiting HGF activity to said mammal. In one embodiment, the injury is not a chronic skin ulcer.

1 .- 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method of treating an infection and/or an injury caused or complicated by an infection in a mammal, comprising providing an antibiotic or fungicide and either HGF or a polypeptide exhibiting HGF activity to said mammal, provided that the injury is not a chronic skin ulcer. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the antibiotic is an antibacterial agent. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the HGF or polypeptide exhibiting HGF activity is administered to the mammal topically. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the HGF comprises a native mammalian HGF and is provided in a topical formulation. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the HGF or polypeptide exhibiting HGF activity is administered to the mammal intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously or intrathecally. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the HGF or polypeptide exhibiting HGF activity is administered to the mammal via inhalation or per rectally. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said the HGF comprises a native mammalian HGF. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said the HGF comprises a recombinant HGF. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said HGF is provided by transfected cells expressing HGF. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said antibiotic is provided in a topical formulation. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the antibiotic is provided orally to said mammal. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising providing heparin to said mammal. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the antibiotic and HGF or polypeptide exhibiting HGF activity are administered in one pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the antibiotic and HGF or polypeptide exhibiting HGF activity are administered in separate pharmaceutical compositions. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the infection is selected from the group consisting of pneumonia, pyelonephritis, infectious gastroenteritis, septicaemia, and acute meningitis. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the mammal has been diagnosed with an infection selected from the group consisting of pneumonia, pyelonephritis, infectious gastroenteritis, septicaemia, meningitis, tuberculosis, endocarditis, erysipelas, and infectious colitis. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the infection is in a respiratory organ of the mammal. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising the additional step of identifying the mammal as one in need of an antibiotic and HGF.